‘There is hope': Newborn brings new light after family tragedy left 2 dead

BESSEMER CITY, N.C. — One year ago, police charged Roger Self with driving an SUV into a restaurant in Bessemer City, killing his daughter and daughter-in-law.

It's still too hard for Taylor Self Potter to talk about that day or her father, battling mental illness and charged with the murder of her two loved ones.

[PAST COVERAGE: Man accused of crashing into crowded restaurant, killing 2 faces judge]

But she said following that tragic moment, there has been a ray of hope for the family.

“There is hope. There is hope,” Potter told Channel 9.

That hope comes from a beautiful baby girl whose presence was announced in a dark hour for Potter and their family.

They were at a family dinner May 20, 2018 at the Surf and Turf Lodge when police said Potter’s father left the table, got into his SUV and drove through the wall.

(Roger Self)

The crash critically wounded Potter’s mother and brother and killed her sister-in-law, Amanda, and her sister, Katelyn.

(Amanda Self, left, Kate Self, right)

Potter was at the table too, but she was not physically harmed.

“It feels like just yesterday,” she said. "Not a day goes by that it's not in my mind."

[PAST COVERAGE: Brother says nothing to forgive after man crashes into restaurant killing 2]

But in the middle of the grieving, days after the tragedy, Potter and her husband learned they were pregnant.

She'd had a miscarriage just months before.

"I immediately knew that one was going to be OK,” Potter said.

The new baby is a happy child for a family that needed a reason to smile.

"A little bit of hurt, tugging, knowing Kate wasn't there for that,” Potter said.

Potter named her Kollins Kate after her sister.

"Every time I look at her, I think about Kate,” she said.

Potter said it would have been tougher to get through this year without little Kollins Kate and the outpouring of love and support they got from so many people.

Roger Self made his first appearance in court earlier this week. The trial is slated for February of next year.

Cox Media Group